WGU D574 Neuropsychology
2026/2027: Complete Exam-Style
Questions with Detailed Rationals
SECTION 1: BRAIN ANATOMY & FUNCTION
Question 1
Which structure is the primary relay station for sensory information (excluding
smell) en route to the cerebral cortex?
A) Hypothalamus
B) Thalamus
C) Basal ganglia
D) Hippocampus
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The thalamus processes and relays nearly all sensory input to appropriate
cortical regions. The hypothalamus regulates homeostasis, the basal ganglia control
movement, and the hippocampus is essential for memory formation .
Question 2
The two cerebral hemispheres are connected by:
A) The basal ganglia
B) The corpus callosum
C) The cerebellum
D) The thalamus
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The corpus callosum is the largest white matter tract in the brain, facilitating
interhemispheric communication. Damage to this structure can result in "split-brain"
syndrome .
Question 3
The _______ lobe is the most anterior portion of the cerebral cortex.
A) Parietal
B) Temporal
C) Frontal
D) Occipital
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The frontal lobe is the most anterior portion of the cerebral cortex,
responsible for executive functions, planning, motor control, and personality .
Question 4
Damage to Broca's area typically results in:
A) Fluent aphasia with poor comprehension
B) Non-fluent, effortful speech with relatively preserved comprehension
C) Pure word deafness
D) Alexia without agraphia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Broca's area (left inferior frontal gyrus) is critical for speech production.
Damage causes expressive (non-fluent) aphasia—characterized by effortful, halting
speech while comprehension remains relatively intact .
,Question 5
Which lobe houses the primary visual cortex?
A) Frontal
B) Parietal
C) Temporal
D) Occipital
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The occipital lobe, located at the back of the brain, contains the primary
visual cortex and processes visual information .
Question 6
The brain and spinal cord are wrapped in protective membranes known
collectively as the:
A) Meninges
B) Ventricles
C) Choroid plexus
D) Blood-brain barrier
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The meninges (dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater) are three
protective layers that envelop the brain and spinal cord. The pia mater is the innermost
layer directly adhered to the brain surface .
Question 7
Which cells are responsible for myelinating axons in the central nervous system?
, A) Schwann cells
B) Oligodendrocytes
C) Astrocytes
D) Microglia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Oligodendrocytes form myelin sheaths in the CNS. Schwann cells perform
this function in the peripheral nervous system .
Question 8
In general, the action potential is initiated at the:
A) Dendrite
B) Cell body
C) Axon hillock
D) Axon terminal
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The axon hillock has the highest concentration of voltage-gated sodium
channels and the lowest threshold, making it the site where action potentials are
typically initiated .
SECTION 2: SENSORY & PERCEPTUAL SYSTEMS
Question 9
What is the ventral stream?
A) The visual pathway specialized for spatial location and motion ("where")
B) The visual pathway specialized for object recognition and identification ("what")
C) The auditory processing pathway
D) The somatosensory processing pathway
2026/2027: Complete Exam-Style
Questions with Detailed Rationals
SECTION 1: BRAIN ANATOMY & FUNCTION
Question 1
Which structure is the primary relay station for sensory information (excluding
smell) en route to the cerebral cortex?
A) Hypothalamus
B) Thalamus
C) Basal ganglia
D) Hippocampus
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The thalamus processes and relays nearly all sensory input to appropriate
cortical regions. The hypothalamus regulates homeostasis, the basal ganglia control
movement, and the hippocampus is essential for memory formation .
Question 2
The two cerebral hemispheres are connected by:
A) The basal ganglia
B) The corpus callosum
C) The cerebellum
D) The thalamus
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The corpus callosum is the largest white matter tract in the brain, facilitating
interhemispheric communication. Damage to this structure can result in "split-brain"
syndrome .
Question 3
The _______ lobe is the most anterior portion of the cerebral cortex.
A) Parietal
B) Temporal
C) Frontal
D) Occipital
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The frontal lobe is the most anterior portion of the cerebral cortex,
responsible for executive functions, planning, motor control, and personality .
Question 4
Damage to Broca's area typically results in:
A) Fluent aphasia with poor comprehension
B) Non-fluent, effortful speech with relatively preserved comprehension
C) Pure word deafness
D) Alexia without agraphia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Broca's area (left inferior frontal gyrus) is critical for speech production.
Damage causes expressive (non-fluent) aphasia—characterized by effortful, halting
speech while comprehension remains relatively intact .
,Question 5
Which lobe houses the primary visual cortex?
A) Frontal
B) Parietal
C) Temporal
D) Occipital
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The occipital lobe, located at the back of the brain, contains the primary
visual cortex and processes visual information .
Question 6
The brain and spinal cord are wrapped in protective membranes known
collectively as the:
A) Meninges
B) Ventricles
C) Choroid plexus
D) Blood-brain barrier
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The meninges (dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater) are three
protective layers that envelop the brain and spinal cord. The pia mater is the innermost
layer directly adhered to the brain surface .
Question 7
Which cells are responsible for myelinating axons in the central nervous system?
, A) Schwann cells
B) Oligodendrocytes
C) Astrocytes
D) Microglia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Oligodendrocytes form myelin sheaths in the CNS. Schwann cells perform
this function in the peripheral nervous system .
Question 8
In general, the action potential is initiated at the:
A) Dendrite
B) Cell body
C) Axon hillock
D) Axon terminal
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The axon hillock has the highest concentration of voltage-gated sodium
channels and the lowest threshold, making it the site where action potentials are
typically initiated .
SECTION 2: SENSORY & PERCEPTUAL SYSTEMS
Question 9
What is the ventral stream?
A) The visual pathway specialized for spatial location and motion ("where")
B) The visual pathway specialized for object recognition and identification ("what")
C) The auditory processing pathway
D) The somatosensory processing pathway
